Anyone traversing Colorado's Central Plains is likely to pass through Lincoln County, as state highways 40/287, 24, 71, and I-70 all intersect in Limon, "The Hub City of the Plains". For more information about Limon, please visit www.townoflimon.com. With its cowboy and homesteader heritage, Lincoln County is infused with the old-time spirit of hospitality. Ever since the round-up cooks in Hugo served beef and biscuits from the chuck wagon to President Teddy Roosevelt, travelers who pass through the county can expect a "stop and sit a spell" welcome.

Back in the 1880s, it was the Smoky Hill Trail, the Butterfield Overland Despatch, the Leavenworth & Pikes Peak Stage, and eventually the railroad that brought travelers to Lincoln County. Today, there's a network of east-west and north-south interstate, national and state roads that link the towns of Lincoln County to each other and beyond.

The region is rich with fertile soil that's plentifully watered by the Big Sandy Alluvial and Ogallala Aquifer. That makes for excellent farming and ranching.

Demographics

Population: 6,087
Land area: 2,586.3 square miles.
Population density: 2.4 persons per square mile.
Elevations range from nearly 4,500 feet to nearly 6,000 feet.
Average annual precipitation: 14 inches at Hugo, Limon and Karval; 16 inches at Genoa and Arriba.
Temperature: Low relative humidity. January mean temperature is 26°. July mean temperature is 71°.

 

Life

The major cities in Lincoln County are Limon and Hugo. Limon is a close-knit community where residents enjoy working together to build a better future for themselves and their city. The Limon School District plays an important role in the community. More than half of the students in the past few graduating classes have received scholarships, various teachers have received statewide recognition for their accomplishments, the sports teams have won numerous state championships, and students rarely ever miss a day of school.

Limon is home to the Limon Heritage Museum and Railroad Park and a bustling downtown area. Museum visitors can see the working N scale model of Limon's 1940's railyard, touch the high plains agricultural history by exploring the sheepherder's wagon, vintage farm machinery and Eclipse Windmill. Come share the area's rich ranching heritage by viewing the Prairie Monument and walking back in time through the one-room schoolhouse, rail dining car, and Native American teepee. The downtown area, which covers a 5,000 square mile area, has become the main shopping and business center.

Genoa is home to the Genoa Tower & Museum. Although closed now, visitors could once view six states from the top of the Tower, which is also the highest point from East Coast to West Coast outside of the Rocky Mountains. The museum houses antiques of all kinds including guns, arrowheads, bottles, coins, rocks, books and souvenirs. Their motto is "If it ain't here...it don't exist!!"

For more information about the community of Limon, please visit the Limon Chamber of Commerce website at: www.limonchamber.us

 

 

Economy

Agriculture remains an economic mainstay in Lincoln County. Much of the land is under cultivation in Lincoln County. The cattle industry, and large ranches are a powerful revenue source. Primary cash crops are wheat, millet and cattle.

The county's excellent transportation network and freight facilities allow for unlimited potential for travel-related services and light manufacturing.

Renewable energy is abundant on Colorado's Central Plains. In early 2011, 34 wind turbines were constructed northwest of Burlington generating a total of 51 megawatts of electricity. In early 2014, it was announced that a 150-megawatt wind farm will be built in Kit Carson County by NextEra Energy within the next two years. The Cedar Point wind project (a joint effort between Enbridge and Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc.) has 139 turbines capable of generating up to 252 megawatts of electrical power located in both Lincoln and Elbert Counties north and west of Limon. At the end of 2013, Limon I and II (Centennial Wind Farms) were online with one hundred twenty-five (125) 1.6mw turbines each, producing an additional 400 mw of renewable energy. NextEra was under construction at the end of 2013 for Limon III which will add more than 100 towers generating an additional 200 MW of power. When Limon III is completed, this will increase the total wind production in Lincoln County to 852 MW.

For information on the business climate in Limon, contact the Limon Chamber of Commerce at (719) 775-9418 or www.limonchamber.us/

Realtors

  • Gordon Real Estate Group - 719-740-1361
  • Hawthorne & Associates, LLC - 719-775-2774

Banks